Immersion yourself in what is surfing...
This is a 104 min length documentary. Shot on location: Hawaii, Fiji, Tahiti, Australia.
Director: Tim Bonython | Executive producer and producer: Sandrine Iratchet-Bonython | Editor: Matt Johnston
Synopsis:
Over the past seven years, surfing enthusiast and filmmaker Tim Bonython has spent every available moment doing what he loves: filming images of breath-taking wave riding in all corners of the globe and conducting interviews with the biggest figureheads of the surfing industry. Over 16 TB of footage and 150 interviews later, Tim Bonython started bringing his greatest project yet to life.
Until now, it was a theatrical experience. It was a two part show that was intended to anchor the annual independently promoted event, the Australian Surf Movie Festival. Now, this incredible collation of footage is an amazing feature length film called IMMERSION.
AWARDS
IMMERSION’s 2013 Festival Tour has rounded off nicely after being awarded not just one, but TWO awards from the New York Surf Film Festival! It was awarded BEST FEATURE and BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the festival in October. Having started by bagging 2 awards at 2012′s Maui Film Festival, IMMERSION’s 2013 festival tour has continued with great success. It was nominated at the Action Sports X-Dance Film Festival and completed an extremely successful screening at the Donostia San Sebastian Surfilm Festibal in Spain in June, and was Officially Selected to take part in the Portuguese Surf Film Festival, Ericeira, Portugal in July.
We are also extremely pleased to announce that we won the Audience Award at the Anglet Surf Film Festival in St Jean de Luz, France in July!
IMMERSION the movie looks at every aspect of surfing; from its early history, through the evolution of surfboards, the science of surfing, the growth of the sport and development of competition, how surfing is portrayed in the media, to the business of surfing through interviews with its athletes, cameramen and film editors.
IMMERSION features some of surfing’s greatest talents and personalities, and takesyou to some of the world’s most isolated, notorious and picturesque surfing locations. It’s not all big waves and boards! The film covers all aspects of the sport – from body surfing and body boarding, surf ski, long boarding and even the new stand up paddle boarding.
IMMERSION is an intense sight and sound experience, a “must see” for surfing enthusiasts of all tastes, generations and walks of life!

Encoded the movie
Audience: for all Ocean enthusiasts. Don't need to be a surfer to enjoy this movie.
Language: english
French subtitles are available - go to this link www.vimeo/ondemand/encodedthestory
Release date worlwide: 25 August 2014
Director: Tim Bonython
Length: 53 min
Distribution and copyrights: Tim Bonython Productions p/l
Synopsis:
This is the third instalment by Award Winner surf cinematographer, Tim Bonython.
First, there was BLACKWATER: the story of a place called Teahupo’o, then there was MAYDAYZ, and now there is ENCODED: the story of the most dangerous wave continues… The team is reunited to put together a great documentary on 2 extraordinary days in 2013 that made history in Tahiti’s most infamous surf spot, Teahupo’o. With the whole world watching, the world’s best surfers gathered in front of the media who crowded the ocean with their boats. The swell is huge. It is non-stop action – a MASSIVE eventful few days. Featuring surfers Mark Matthews, Shane Dorian, Laurie Towner, Alex Gray and Koa Rothman, who puts himself on the map by surfing the biggest wave of the day. With interviews with the surfers and the media, to get the inside stories from all angles, you get a first hand account of what happened, how it happened and what it was like to be there. Special guest Nick Carroll provides compelling narration. Watch it now
A word from Director and cinematographer Tim Bonython about his new movie, ENCODED.
“Tahiti is everything in surfing. It is steeped in surfing history and is such a beautiful, scenic location that is home to a wave that has forged its own identity in a very short time. With my close relationship with Tahiti and the fact I have already done two documentaries [Blackwater and MayDayz] on Teahupo’o, the world’s most dangerous reef, I decided to continue the story with ENCODED.
The title ENCODED came from the fact that when surfers and media (like me) watch the swell maps and weather patterns, we look to see what colour code the storms come in. When a storm is BIG, the swell generated is coded with a colour: Code Red is a very big swell over 20 feet, Code Purple is even bigger (25 to 30ft) and Code Black is a ‘batten down the hatches and shut down the harbour’ kind of swell; in other words, deathly.
Over the years of chasing swells and going to some of the most challenging surfing locations, I have realised that the better spots don’t give a great break every year. Infact, even at the most exciting surf locations, you sometimes you have to wait 3 to 5 years to get that one moment that makes it awesome. Teahupo’o is one of those places. When they do come, these events always create historic moments where a monster wave is caught and the world sits up and takes notice.
In 2011, I documented the famed CODE RED swell that hit Tahiti’s coast. It was 20 to 30 feet, extremely dangerous and, amazingly, turned up right in the middle of the Billabong Pro. For the next 2 years after that, we never got a swell close to the Code Red. Then, last year, in both May/June we got two monster swells within two weeks! Thankfully, I was there to capture both swells.
BLACKWATER The story of a place called Teahupo’o, made back in 2003, was the first installment in the story about Teahupo’o. My last documentary of the spot (and the follow up to Blackwater) was MAY DAYZ, made back in 2005, so I felt it was time to continue that evolving story with ENCODED, featuring those two crazy swells.”
Hope you will enjoy Encoded the movie.
Leave us a feedback :)

Encoded the movie - release date: April 2014 | Director: Tim Bonython | length: 53 min | Distribution and copyrights: Tim Bonython Productions p/l
First, there was BLACKWATER: the story of a place called Teahupo’o, then there was MAYDAYZ, and now there is ENCODED: the story of the most dangerous wave continues… The team is reunited to put together a great documentary on 2 extraordinary days in 2013 that made history in Tahiti’s most infamous surf spot, Teahupo’o. With the whole world watching, the world’s best surfers gathered in front of the media who crowded the ocean with their boats. The swell is huge. It is non-stop action – a MASSIVE eventful few days. Featuring surfers Mark Matthews, Shane Dorian, Laurie Towner, Alex Gray and Koa Rothman, who puts himself on the map by surfing the biggest wave of the day. With interviews with the surfers and the media, to get the inside stories from all angles, you get a first hand account of what happened, how it happened and what it was like to be there. Special guest Nick Carroll provides compelling narration. Watch it now
A word from Director and cinematographer Tim Bonython about his new movie, ENCODED.
“Tahiti is everything in surfing. It is steeped in surfing history and is such a beautiful, scenic location that is home to a wave that has forged its own identity in a very short time. With my close relationship with Tahiti and the fact I have already done two documentaries [Blackwater and MayDayz] on Teahupo’o, the world’s most dangerous reef, I decided to continue the story with ENCODED.
The title ENCODED came from the fact that when surfers and media (like me) watch the swell maps and weather patterns, we look to see what colour code the storms come in. When a storm is BIG, the swell generated is coded with a colour: Code Red is a very big swell over 20 feet, Code Purple is even bigger (25 to 30ft) and Code Black is a ‘batten down the hatches and shut down the harbour’ kind of swell; in other words, deathly.
Over the years of chasing swells and going to some of the most challenging surfing locations, I have realised that the better spots don’t give a great break every year. Infact, even at the most exciting surf locations, you sometimes you have to wait 3 to 5 years to get that one moment that makes it awesome. Teahupo’o is one of those places. When they do come, these events always create historic moments where a monster wave is caught and the world sits up and takes notice.
In 2011, I documented the famed CODE RED swell that hit Tahiti’s coast. It was 20 to 30 feet, extremely dangerous and, amazingly, turned up right in the middle of the Billabong Pro. For the next 2 years after that, we never got a swell close to the Code Red. Then, last year, in both May/June we got two monster swells within two weeks! Thankfully, I was there to capture both swells.
BLACKWATER The story of a place called Teahupo’o, made back in 2003, was the first installment in the story about Teahupo’o. My last documentary of the spot (and the follow up to Blackwater) was MAY DAYZ, made back in 2005, so I felt it was time to continue that evolving story with ENCODED, featuring those two crazy swells from last year.”

The 2009 etnies YouTube Rider Challenge presented by CARVE has a winner!
The comp award ceremony has taken place in Jamie O’Brien’s front room. He has done an amazing job with a full video review of all the barrels submitted.
We’d like to thank etnies for rewarding and acknowledging British and Irish chargers, JOB for taking the time out to judge, but more importantly the riders and video guys for submitting clips and generally charging about the place. You guys rock!

On this beautiful Photography Slideshow you will find distinctive images I took on my last stop on Oahu-Hawai'i.
An amazing island with even more amazing people and incredible beaches. If you ever have the chance to go to the Hawai'ian Islands you will be blessed. ; ))
Mahalo and Aloha to all you photography and ocean lovers. ; ))
Also a huge "THANK YOU" to the music artists -
- The M Machine (Label OWSLA www.owsla.com) for the beautiful song "Luma (Original Mix)",
- Nu:Tone (Record Label: Hospital Records www.hospitalrecords.com) for the amazing song "Three Bags Full"
- And for the happy classic song "Morning Vibes (Original Mix)" by Blue in Green (Record Label: Cold Busted www.blog.coldbusted.org). Thank you guys love your work and with your music my photos will be 1000 times nicer to enjoy ; ))
More info about my photography work you will find here: www.oceanbluesky.com

The wave, the surfer, the dream... When these three words are combined, our
lives can change. A surfer always seeks the best waves, that relentless pursuit
that makes him travel the world searching for the perfect wave.
But what if the wave, which we often dreamed of the ocean, was closer than ever
imagined? And when we least expect it in a river?
A group of friends from Barreiro city, in Portugal, discovered a phenomenon: the
boat that connects their city to Lisbon provides a perfect wave that rolls along
150 meters in the Tagus river. They call it: “Gasoline”.
A wave is just a wave until someone has the vision to ride it. And then the
imagination can become reality.
Perfect, beautiful and mysterious, the wave shows only to those who really like
her, seek her, cherish, and have a special relationship with her.
This is a story of friendship, dedication, strength to believe and sharing
happiness in an unlikely scenario surfing Portugal’s most urban wave.
Despite being in the sight of thousands of people, the secret was now revealed...